Chapter 107: A Chance Encounter with the Celestial Master

"Great Illumination, Boundless Wisdom, Immortal Art of Awakening, the Unshakable Root Seal of the Past!"

Only a faint thread of consciousness remained in Xu Cheng as he murmured these words slowly. With each utterance, an endless radiance emanated from his primordial spirit.

His primordial spirit, crystal-clear like glass, gradually reassembled piece by piece. After several hours, it finally restored completely.

Having endured multiple cycles of destruction and rebirth, this time he had reached the threshold of transforming into a materialized primordial spirit.

Yet, now was not the ideal moment to break through—without a physical body, nothing was possible.

The initial art of bodily rebirth had by now evolved into the Yellow Springs Reincarnation Technique. As long as the Yellow Springs remained undestroyed and his primordial spirit was not reduced to dust, there was hope for recovery. Through the activation of the Yellow Springs Reincarnation Technique, Xu Cheng’s body slowly took shape.

Appearing as a skeletal figure, he was about to attempt his breakthrough when a figure drifted down from above.

This person had white hair and beard, both long and flowing in the wind, resembling an immortal sage.

The elder in the air then spoke, “I was wondering who it was—it turns out to be the emissary of the Yellow Springs. What brings you to this humble Taoist?”

“Surely you must be the Celestial Master of the Taoist Path!” Xu Cheng guessed, sensing that now was not the time to break through and detecting the profound mystical energy within the man’s body. “I encountered a ghostly fiend of formidable power, whom I couldn’t defeat. It even struck me into the earth with a single palm. I suppose it spared me out of respect for your reputation! For that, I must thank you, Celestial Master.”

“Oh? I haven’t appeared in person, yet you owe your life to me? Not bad, not bad! It seems my reputation still carries weight!” The elder laughed heartily. “But to think there are still ghosts and monsters nearby—this world remains far from peaceful!”

“Indeed, Celestial Master. On my journey, I have encountered ghosts who have undergone nine heavenly thunder purifications, and others who serve them yet have experienced five such purifications themselves!” Xu Cheng quickly added, hoping to win the support of the Taoist faction against these entities. Even if it failed, it would still be advantageous to him.

“Nine purifications by heavenly thunder?” The Celestial Master’s eyes brightened instantly. “As far as I know, the only ghosts who have endured nine heavenly thunder purifications are the True Immortal Tian Gui, the Old Mother of Mount Li, and the Ghost King of Tiandu! But all of them have long since withdrawn from the world. Which one did you encounter?”

“I do not know. True Immortal Tian Gui has ascended to the heavenly realm for various reasons, so it cannot be her. I only recall the eyes—cold and domineering—surely a male ghost.” Xu Cheng recollected those eyes, which were chilling and imposing, unlike a woman’s.

“Could it be the Ghost King of Tiandu? That seems unlikely as well. He has long since attained enlightenment and ceased widespread slaughter, now residing in seclusion within the forests of Shanyang Prefecture.”

The elder stroked his beard thoughtfully. He did not doubt Xu Cheng’s words but knew the number of ghosts who had survived nine heavenly thunder purifications was very limited.

“Celestial Master, guessing here is fruitless unless we meet that being again,” Xu Cheng said.

“Alas, my cultivation is still lacking, and I have only three years left to live. Otherwise, I would accompany you down the mountain to investigate that formidable ghost!” the elder sighed. “Since you are the emissary of the Yellow Springs, might you be able to exchange some lifespan for me?”

The elder unexpectedly changed the subject to barter for lifespan. It seemed his remaining years were nearly spent, yet he had not yet touched the threshold of ascension.

“I wonder what you propose to offer in exchange for lifespan?” Xu Cheng asked, inspecting his Yellow Springs token. If even the ghost judge Chrysanthemum could trade for lifespan, surely he could as well.

Having relied heavily on Chrysanthemum before, with many affairs managed by him, Xu Cheng now needed to familiarize himself with these matters alone.

“Among the cultivators, it is rumored that to exchange lifespan with a Yellow Springs emissary, merit golden light is the best currency. Tell me, how much lifespan can this merit golden light buy?” The elder produced a golden orb about the size of a fist, shimmering with roughly ten thousand merit golden light.

Xu Cheng examined it carefully while reviewing the information stored in the Yellow Springs token.

To benefit himself, he quickly said, “It should be able to buy about sixty years of lifespan.”

“Sixty years of lifespan?” The elder hesitated, uncertain whether to accept.

“This is already my limit!” Xu Cheng hastened to add, fearing the elder might demand more, embellishing the claim.

“I did not say it was little; in fact, it is quite a lot. I hear that the ten thousand merit golden light would only fetch ten years of lifespan from the emissary of the Firmament. Then I agree to the exchange!”

The elder agreed quickly, causing Xu Cheng’s heart to sink. He had not expected the Firmament Elder Demon to be so ruthless.

“Very well. Will this lifespan be added to your body or someone else’s?”

“Of course to my own. I am Zhang Taiping. With this additional sixty years, I need only refine my power, endure two more heavenly thunder purifications, and ultimately ascend to immortality!”

Zhang Taiping spoke with eyes full of boundless hope as he gazed toward the sky.

Several pulses of consciousness flowed into the Yellow Springs token, bestowing sixty years of lifespan upon Zhang Taiping. A faint glow appeared, and the Celestial Master’s lifespan increased as if from nowhere.

“Excellent, excellent! The merit golden light is yours. I shall now retreat into seclusion!” Zhang Taiping tossed the golden orb to Xu Cheng and hurried back to the mountain gate.

With the merit golden light in hand, after setting aside the portion owed to the Yellow Springs, Xu Cheng still had four thousand merit golden light remaining. With these, breaking through to the realm of materialized primordial spirit was only a matter of time.

“Emissary, will you remain here for some time?”

Just as Xu Cheng prepared to cultivate, Zhang Taiping suddenly returned to ask.

“Certainly. I must improve my cultivation before investigating the newly appeared ghosts,” Xu Cheng replied with certainty.

“Very well. Emissary, accompany me back to the mountain to extend the lifespan of several venerable ancestors of the Taoist Path! There will be merit golden light and fine gifts await you!”

Zhang Taiping grasped Xu Cheng’s arm, urging him along.

“Then I shall humbly obey!” Hearing there were gifts from the Taoist Path, Xu Cheng naturally would not refuse.

At that moment, he understood why the Firmament Elder Demon had so gravely warned that ‘those not of our kind must harbor different intentions,’ even forbidding much contact with cultivators. It was likely the demon feared he would encroach upon his business.

The journey up the mountain passed many Taoist disciples. Thunder rumbled intermittently in the mountains, likely the disciples practicing the Five Thunders Daoist Technique.

Zhang Taiping led Xu Cheng to the mountaintop, finding him a quiet place and informing him that the supreme elder of the Taoist Path would emerge from seclusion in a month, at which time Xu Cheng could return to receive additional lifespan.

In the secluded chamber, Xu Cheng took the opportunity to absorb the merit golden light into his body and began breaking through his own cultivation realm.